Pitt
Franklin & Marshall Open
Vinnie Santaniello Wins F&M Open, Five Panthers Place
1/5/2024 10:00:00 PM | Wrestling
LANCASTER, Pa.—After a lengthy layoff over the holidays, several members of the Pitt wrestling team started 2024 with strong performances at the Franklin & Marshall Open.
Redshirt freshman Vinnie Santaniello won the 133-pound title at the F&M Open, backing up his impressive runner-up effort at the season-opening Clarion Open by going one step further this time.
Pitt's starter at 133 pounds, who was ranked No. 29 in his weight class by InterMat to start the new calendar year, boosted his NCAA Championships résumé with a 5-0 Friday in Lancaster, highlighted by getting revenge over No. 17 Braxton Brown with a semifinal victory after he'd lost to Brown in the dual against Maryland in November.
Santaniello improved to 11-8 and showcased his strength in tournament wrestling, leading five Panthers who finished on the podium at Franklin & Marshall's annual open, which featured athletes from more than a dozen major college wrestling programs from all across the nation.
True freshman Dylan Evans, wrestling unattached, went on a great run to the 157-pound final to take second place and post a 5-1 record on the day. Senior starter Cole Matthews earned four wins on the day and took fourth at 141 pounds in his first action of 2024.
Also at 157 pounds, Jared Keslar and Brock McMillen advanced through the brackets to take fifth and sixth, respectively, in their weight class, with each claiming six individual victories throughout the day.
Tyler Chappell at 125 pounds, Briar Priest at 141 and Grant MacKay at 165 earned multiple wins as well for the Panthers against the likes of Navy, Princeton, Campbell, Air Force and others.
Full results from Pitt's efforts on Friday at the Franklin & Marshall Open are available below.
The Panthers will return to dual action next Friday when they welcome No. 9 Oklahoma State to the Fitzgerald Field House for an elite nonconference dual at 7 p.m.
Tickets are going fast and fans can secure seats to the Pitt-Oklahoma State dual here.
Pitt's 2023 NCAA champion and Bethel Park's own Nino Bonaccorsi will be honored during the dual against the Cowboys. Fans in attendance should arrive early to pick up the giveaway item of a mini replica of Bonaccorsi's national championship banner that hangs in the Pitt wrestling room.
125 Pounds, Tyler Chappell (unattached), 2-2
Round of 32: Tyler Chappell (Pitt) maj. dec. Jared Chuquilin (Long Island), 16-5
Round of 16: Nick Treaster (unattached) dec. Tyler Chappell (Pitt), 4-1 SV
Consolation: Tyler Chappell (Pitt) med. forfeit Dayton Delviscio (Navy)
Consolation: Brady Pruett (Penn) dec. Tyler Chappell (Pitt), 5-1
125 Pounds, Jordan Villareal, 1-2
Round of 32: Carson Wagner (Binghamton) dec. Jordan Villareal (Pitt), 5-1
Consolation: Jordan Villareal (Pitt) dec. Dominic Flatt (Millersville), 10-5
Consolation: Nico Tocci (Air Force) maj. dec. Jordan Villareal (Pitt), 11-2
133 Pounds, No. 29 Vinnie Santaniello, 5-0, First Place
Round of 32: No. 29 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) tech. fall Colt Schrader (Army West Point), 15-0 (5:00)
Round of 16: No. 29 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) tech. fall Sean Logue (Lock Haven), 15-0 (3:11)
Quarterfinal: No. 29 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) dec. John Hildebrandt (Drexel), 4-0
Semifinal: No. 29 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) dec. No. 17 Braxton Brown (Maryland), 3-1
Final: No. 29 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) dec. Gable Strickland (Lock Haven), 5-2
141 Pounds, No. 27 Cole Matthews, 4-2, Fourth Place
Round of 64: No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pitt) dec. Shane Parcelay (Army West Point), 10-4
Round of 32: No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pitt) tech. fall Brandt Fajerman (F&M), 18-3 (6:39)
Round of 16: No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pitt) tech. fall Ryan Luna (Presbyterian), 17-2 (5:59)
Quarterfinal: No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pitt) dec. Devin Matthews (Long Island), 8-1
Semifinal: No. 22 Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven) dec. No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pitt), 7-2
Third Place Match: No. 9 Kal Miller (Maryland) dec. No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pitt),4-1 SV
141 Pounds, Briar Priest, 5-1
Round of 64: Briar Priest (Pitt) dec. Wynton Denkins (Campbell), 11-10
Round of 32: No. 9 Kal Miller (Maryland) dec. Briar Priest (Pitt), 6-3
Consolation: Briar Priest (Pitt) tech. fall Aidan Micheli (Millersville), 17-1 (4:25)
Consolation: Briar Priest (Pitt) maj. dec. Chris Martino (Princeton), 12-3
Consolation: Briar Priest (Pitt) tech. fall Trason Oehme (Air Force), 19-4 (5:40)
Consolation: Briar Priest (Pitt) tech. fall Ryan Luna (Presbyterian), 16-1 (5:51)
141 Pounds, Emory Taylor, 1-2
Round of 64: Emory Taylor (Pitt) dec. Michael Pizzuto (Maryland), 7-4 SV
Round of 32: Chris Rivera (Campbell) dec. Emory Taylor (Pitt), 7-3
Consolation: Deon Pleasant (Drexel) pins Emory Taylor (Pitt), 2:53
141 Pounds, Connor Swaim, 0-2
Round of 32: Bryce Kresho (F&M) pins Connor Swaim (Pitt), 3:50
Consolation: Clayton Gabrielson (Maryland) pins Connor Swaim (Pitt), 3:50
149 Pounds, Jack Pletcher, 1-2
Round of 64: Jack Pletcher (Pitt) maj. dec. Mason Lynch (Rider), 13-4
Round of 32: Kaeman Smith (Navy) dec. Jack Pletcher (Pitt), 8-1
Consolation: James Latona (Navy) pins Jack Pletcher (Pitt), 3:24
149 Pounds, Ty Cymmerman, 1-2
Round of 32: Ty Cymmerman (Pitt) dec. Drew Lang (Princeton), 5-3
Round of 16: Hunter Gandy (Penn) maj. dec. Ty Cymmerman (Pitt), 10-1
Consolation: Noah Tapia (Hofstra) maj. dec. Ty Cymmerman (Pitt), 11-1
157 Pounds, Jared Keslar, 6-1, Fifth Place
Round of 64: Jared Keslar (Pitt) tech. fall Kevin McBride (Rider), 16-1 (1:18)
Round of 32: Jared Keslar (Pitt) dec. Billy Templeton (F&M), 7-0
Round of 16: Jared Keslar (Pitt) dec. Eric Alderfer (Lock Haven), 6-5
Quarterfinal: No. 31 Michael North (Maryland) pins Jared Keslar (Pitt), 1:02
Consolation: Jared Keslar (Pitt) wins by no contest
Consolation: Jared Keslar (Pitt) dec. Reed Fullmer (Penn RTC), 5-2
Fifth Place Match: Jared Keslar (Pitt) wins by no contest
157 Pounds, Kelin Laffey, 1-2
Round of 64: Kelin Laffey (Pitt) dec. Micah Hanau (Army West Point), 4-2
Round of 32: Zach Karagias (NC State) dec. Kelin Laffey (Pitt), 7-3
Consolation: Christian Hodges (Navy) dec. Kelin Laffey (Pitt), 4-1 SV
157 Pounds, Brock McMillen, 6-1, Sixth Place
Round of 64: Fin Nadeau (Binghamton) dec. Brock McMillen (Pitt), 11-8 SV
Consolation: Brock McMillen (Pitt) dec. Kaden Milheim (American), 11-4
Consolation: Brock McMillen (Pitt) maj. dec. Christian Hodges (Navy), 11-1
Consolation: Brock McMillen (Pitt) maj. dec. Eric Alderfer (Lock Haven), 13-3
Consolation: Brock McMillen (Pitt) maj. dec. Dillon Carlson (Kent State), 13-4
Consolation: Brock McMillen (Pitt) dec. Vince Manella (Penn RTC), 11-6
Consolation: Brock McMillen (Pitt) wins by no contest
157 Pounds, Dylan Evans (unattached), 5-1, Second Place
Round of 64: Dylan Evans (Pitt) tech. fall Tyler Shea (F&M), 19-4 (2:13)
Round of 32: Dylan Evans (Pitt) dec. Tyler Williams (Drexel), 3-2
Round of 16: Dylan Evans (Pitt) dec. Rhise Royster (Long Island), 2-2 TB2
Quarterfinal: Dylan Evans (Pitt) dec. Vince Manella (Penn RTC), 7-2
Semifinal: Dylan Evans (Pitt) tech. fall Carter Baer (Binghamton), 17-1 (3:54)
Final: Jude Swisher (Penn) maj. dec. Dylan Evans (Pitt), 10-0
165 Pounds, Grant MacKay (unattached), 2-2
Round of 32: Grant MacKay (Pitt) maj. dec. Jack Ganos (Air Force), 14-3
Round of 16: Dakota Morris (Army West Point) dec. Grant MacKay (Pitt), 2-1
Consolation: Grant MacKay (Pitt) med. forfeit Jonathan Parrilla (Millersville)
Consolation: Cooper Haase (Army West Point) dec. Grant MacKay (Pitt), 6-4
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